Book-support



(No Model) T. A. OWEN. BOOK SUPPORT.

No. 583,929. Patented June 8,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT trio.

THEODORE A. OYVEN, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

BO-OK-SU PPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,929, dated June 8,1897.

Application filed June 6, 1896. fierlal No. 594,544. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE A. OWEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Supports; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to book supports or holders.

My object is to provide a simple, cheap, and durable book-support whichwill be capable of quick and easy adjustment.

Having this object in view, the invention consists of certain peculiarfeatures and novel combinations appearing more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, parts beingbroken away to disclose the runner of the adjuster; Fig. an endelevation; and Fig. 3 a plan view.

A designates a base or holder which can be constructed of any desiredsize and material and made as ornamental as required. This base ispreferably supported on four short legs 1, and it is provided with along longitudinally-extending slot 2 and a series of catch-recesses 3,extending at right angles thereto. 1

The numeral l designates a round runnerbar which lies in a linelnentwith the slot and is fastened to the under side of the base by screws 5and 6 at its respective ends.

The adjuster 7 is a thin piece of metal which extends through and isadapted to move in the long slot, and is provided with a runner 8, whichencircles and slides on the runner-bar. It will be observed that theadjuster is considerably longer at 9, where it moves in the slot, andthat the runner itself is still longer. This construction is desirable,so that the adjuster will be better guided in its movements in the slot.The upper portion of the runner is provided with a series of transverseplates 10, which press against the books and more efiectually hold thesame in position than if the thin adjuster alone were used. The rearportion of the adj nster is provided with a handle 11, so that the samecan be easily manipulated. The adjuster is also provided with atransverse pin 12.

My improved spring-catch is formed of a single piece of spring-wire. Theends 13 of the wire pass through holes in the adjuster. They thenloosely wrap around the arms of both sides of the pin 12, as shown at14. From these points the respective sections 15 of the wire convergedownwardly, straddling the handle, and are first twisted together into avertical shank 16 and then into a substantially square open catch 17,which is adapted to spring into any of the catch-recesses 3 in the base.

If desirable, the right-hand end of the base could be provided with anend piece 18, (shown in dotted lines,) against which the books would bepressed by the adjuster. This is not necessary, however, as this end ofthe base is designed to be rested against any vertical fixed objeat-such, for instance,

as the side of a desk or a wall, (he.

The operation is as follows: The books are rested on the base, thehandle grasped, and the adjuster pushed forward. The springcatch willautomatically engage with a catchrecess when the desired point isreached. WVhen again moving the adjuster either forward or backward, asthe handle is grasped the little finger of the hand can be used to pullthe catch-head backward and out of engagement with the catcha'ecess,whereupon the adjuster can be moved as heretofore 6X plained.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In abook-support the combination with a base adapted to hold the books, ofan adjuster movableon said base, and a springactuated catch connected tothe adjuster and adapted for engagement with the base, substant-ially asdescribed.

2. In a book-support, the combination with a base, and a runner-barconnected to the base, of an adjuster having a runner embracing andmovable on the runner-bar, and springactuated catch mechanism adapted toengage with the base.

3. In a book-support, the combination with a.- base provided withcatch-recesses, of an adjuster movable 0n the base, a handle connectedto the adjuster, and a springmeteh connected to the adjuster and adaptedto en'- ter and engage with said catch-recesses, substentiallyas'deseribed. 1 I I Y 4. In a book-support, the combination with a baseprovided with. a series of catch-1e cesses, of a runner-bar connectedtosaid base,

10 an adjuster embracing and slidable on the 'l'unner-bzu', andspring-actuated catch mechanism adapted to enter the recesses.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo su'l: seri10- ing Witnesses.

' THEODORE vA. OWEN;

\Vitnesses: e

O. B. MEOKEL, CHARLES VERNON.

